APHA World Equitation Winners Include Yeaton, Zimmerman, and More

By: Brittany Bevis

Lovely ladies talented in the art of Equitation showed off their skills this evening at the APHA World Show. Shannon Yeaton rode Lucky In Luv to win Novice Amateur Equitation. Reserve was Only Good Intentions and Haley Sims. Third was Good At It and Stephanie Combs. Fourth was Time Well Spent and Samantha Sullo. Fifth was Ventura Boulevard and Alexie Estrada.

Shannon and 4-year-old “Bailey” have been hard at work honing their skills in all-around events during their short career. “We started this adventure in her all around career five months ago,” she says. “We started really hitting it hard the past two months and taught her how to change leads three weeks ago. That’s the first time I’ve changed a lead on her in a pattern at any horse show.”

Shannon describes this mare as having a ton of personality with an active mind that excels when presented with a challenge. “Her ears never stop moving, which can be a little deceptive when you’re getting ready to show, and she’s flailing them around! I had a very particular number of strides I wanted to get for each of my trot transitions, and I wanted my turn to be very fluid into my left lead lope. Being a Western horse, I feel like they’re sometimes at a disadvantage, because they’re slow naturally, so I wanted to stay fluid, forward, pretty and not get sucked back through that lead change, and kind of go all out. She totally stepped up and gave me everything she possibly could.”

Shannon relies on guidance from her trainers, Tim and Shannon Gillespie, and says that Erin Fick had a hand in this mare’s beginning as well. “It really takes a village to raise a child, and I’m a firm belier that this is my village and they’ve taught me so much. I’m really grateful for all of them.”

Coming up next, this team will compete in Novice Amateur Showmanship, Amateur Showmanship, and Amateur Horsemanship.

Christine Weiser rode Coin Machine to win Amateur Equitation. Reserve was Paige Wacker with Whitetrashmillionaire. Third was Rebecca Figueroa with Check Required. Fourth was Holly Phalen with VS Code Victoria. Fifth was Emily Fick with CR Good Impulse.

Winning Youth Walk Trot Equitation was Anna Overway Moore with All In Red. Reserve was Shelby Key with Onlyalilblackvelvet. Third was Emme Graves with Over Infleeted.